J-Term Allows Students to Pursue Unique Learning Opportunities

[fblike] Gretchen Walch

Four months ago, I began reaching out to humanitarian organizations, looking for an opportunity to job shadow someone “making a difference in the world”. I was humbled and amazed when in response to my outreach; The Peace Corps invited me to spend two weeks, during the month of January, at the Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C. From the outside looking in, I observed the inner workings of the Peace Corps to gain an understanding of how it functions as a whole. Through intriguing conversations with employees from all over the Headquarters, I was able to not only understand the Peace Corps’ work, but also, its unique community.

Upon meeting my first contact, I immediately appreciated the open, multicultural, and yet close knit environment of the Peace Corps. The community is rooted in a shared passion for service. Through conversation, it became evident the headquarters also connects to the government community. The Peace Corps is an accredited organization because it is a government organization. It has access to USAID, The State Department, and other partners in the government; all of which consistently work together to initiate change. This idea of collaboration extends to the non-profit and NGO partners, which are affiliated with the Peace Corps. These strategic partnerships open many resources, like the embassies, for volunteers. At the headquarters, Peace Corps employees can attend meetings with partners and add input on global issues. The Peace Corps’ community is what sets it apart from other organizations.

The acquaintances and friends I made at the Peace Corps were invaluable. I can extract many conclusions about humanitarian work and my future from these relationships. First of all, to understand Peace Corps Volunteers is to appreciate the diverse reasons for which everyone serves, and the humble, passionate, and focused person they become. Every returned volunteer I met said they left with a new perspective of themselves and their effect on others.

I asked many people for their perspective on the needs of communities around the world. I found that when driven by passion, each person finds their niche in service. I also discovered personally listening to each person’s focus; everything from gender development to sustainability to education, I gained knowledge about many areas of need. It is exciting to see there are many ways to link areas of development together. For example, being a teacher who empowers women, by teaching them how to maintain a cook stove, addressing at a minimum three areas: gender development, sustainability and education. I now understand each area of service and the importance of ensuring a balance of all areas within a community.

Looking forward, the perspective I gained could benefit any visitor. Personally, I gained knowledge that in order to be most helpful to others, following my passion throughout my education and acting as a citizen and advocate for diversity, will prepare me for this career. Everyone chooses a career path, understanding the path of others’ is what makes you effective in your goals and in that of a greater purpose. Gaining, not only an understanding, but an appreciation of the roles of each person in your workplace, helps you to become more efficient at your own work and increases your ability to contribute to the goals of the entire organization or company.

I have honestly been forever changed by my stay in Washington D.C. and by my time spent at the Peace Corps Headquarters. I am thankful for each acquaintance I made and hope I cross paths with the Peace Corps again, in the near future.